MSC Cruises has 130 job vacancies available for Namibians aboard its international cruise ships under a recruitment partnership with the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB).
The NIPDB said the vacancies form part of nearly 200 employment opportunities made available to Namibians this year, with 75 candidates already receiving job offers and four having departed to begin work.
The remaining successful candidates are expected to take up their positions between November 2026 and March 2027.
NIPDB Acting Executive for Competitiveness and Branding Catherine Shipushu said the recruitment initiative was aimed at connecting Namibians with international employment opportunities while addressing the country’s high youth unemployment.
According to the Namibia Statistics Agency’s 2023 Labour Force Survey, youth unemployment among people aged 15 to 34 stood at 44.1%.
Shipushu said the partnership, established in mid-2023, provides employment opportunities in hospitality, food and beverage, guest services, entertainment, retail, beauty and wellness aboard MSC cruise ships.
The first recruitment drive, conducted in 2023 and early 2024, attracted more than 8,400 applications, resulting in 42 job offers. However, only 25 candidates took up employment aboard the vessels.
This means fewer than 1% of applicants in the initial recruitment round secured positions aboard the cruise ships.
Shipushu said the latest recruitment drive had expanded the number of opportunities available to Namibians, with 130 positions still open for applications.
“We recognise that Namibia has talented, ambitious young people who are ready to compete on the global stage, but may not always have access to the right opportunities. Through our partnership with MSC Cruises, the NIPDB is opening doors for our people to gain international work experience, build valuable skills and grow their careers,” she said.
Shipushu encouraged eligible Namibians to apply for the remaining positions, saying the initiative would allow successful candidates to gain practical skills and international work experience.
The current vacancies are open to Namibian citizens aged 18 and older who have completed Grade 10, 11 or 12 and are proficient in German.
Under the partnership, the NIPDB facilitates recruitment awareness, stakeholder engagement and connections between eligible applicants and MSC Cruises, while the cruise operator provides the employment opportunities.
The NIPDB said MSC Cruises was selected as a partner partly because of its stated commitment to human rights, fair business practices and a zero-tolerance approach to human trafficking.
Shipushu said the partnership demonstrated how cooperation with international companies could help address unemployment while equipping Namibians with skills and experience for future career development.
